When you think about Netherlands, you imagine windmills.
- Mike
- 2025年11月5日
- 読了時間: 3分
更新日：2月18日
【November 5】
I was unsure where to go, so I asked at the station's tourist information center. They suggested windmills, so I inquired about how to get there. Perhaps because my English is poor, I couldn't quite grasp the directions, but the staff kindly wrote me a note.
I went to see those windmills.
Kinderdijk, which they recommended, is apparently famous. There seemed to be several ways to get there—train, subway, bus, water bus—but following the memo for the fastest route, I took the subway, then a water bus, and finally a barge to reach the Kinderdijk windmill complex in the shortest time possible.
From Central Station, I took the subway to a station near the canals, boarded a water bus, and then transferred to a barge. I was impressed by the convenient water transportation network unique to the Netherlands, a country crisscrossed by canals.
For sightseeing, the one-day pass is convenient and affordable. Installing the digital ticket means you can simply show it on board the water bus and the barge as well.
Perhaps because it was off-season, I didn't see many tourists. Occasionally, however, I spotted what appeared to be passengers from large sightseeing cruises, hurriedly touring the area with a guide.
Seeing the actual waterwheel didn't really move me much. I'm sure similar sights exist in Japan too.
Then some tourists from Hong Kong, probably families, boarded the water bus and a flatboat. Later, they took photos for us too.
I had brought a camera tripod, but it was easier to ask someone present to take the photos for me, and it made for pleasant conversation too. (Like, “Where are you from?” and such...)
You can tour inside the waterwheel, but it costs extra, so I passed. I think of it as a smaller version of Japanese waterwheels.
Returning by the same route would have been boring, so I took a bus and subway from the pier. However, since the land bus was a regular route bus, it made stops all over the place, taking much longer than the water bus ride there. The Mapy app came in handy here too.
Taking the subway back to Central Station was easy, but since the sun was still high, I got off one stop before Central Station and strolled through the city to the Youth Hostel.
Bronze statues were placed here and there throughout the city.
You really feel that the Netherlands is a cycling nation because the dedicated bike lanes are so well-developed, seemingly close to 100% coverage. The bike lanes are painted brown, so you can easily spot them even in photos.
Additionally, car charging stations are conveniently accessible right beside regular roads.
I stopped by the supermarket in front of the hostel to buy dinner and breakfast, then made ramen at the hostel and ate it with salad. The YouthHostel I stayed at had a lounge area and kitchen space on the first floor, and I could freely use leftover ingredients from other guests to supplement my meals, which was a big help. This system is the same as the share houses I live in back in Japan, so it's inexpensive and easy to get into.
Rotterdam's route buses are electric vehicles, and charging stations are installed at the station front.
This morning my phone battery drained extremely fast. Not sure why, but maybe it's reaching the end of its life?
I need to consider replacing it, but since I have travel expenses this time, I want to avoid major expenses around the same period. I'll think about it next year or later!
Summary
Rotterdam has a diverse transportation network, so a one-day pass is very cost-effective and convenient.
While sightseeing cruises include a guide fee, the water buses and barges are essential parts of the local transportation network. I highly recommend trying them at least once.